Handling the Risks Associated with Raising Money on Kickstarter

raising money on kickstarter

For young companies, crowdfunding can seem like easy money that will let them build the business they’ve always dreamed about. So far, more than 49,000 projects have been funded on Kickstarter to the tune of $821 million.  But there are risks associated with raising money on Kickstarter and similar sites.

Compared to applying for other funding sources, it’s relatively quick and simple to post a pitch on a crowdfunding site like Kickstarter to see what happens. But this faster pace often means that people looking for funds are less likely to consider some important aspects of running a business.

Liability

While you may not be dealing with the same amount of contracts and paperwork as you would with a traditional lender, raising money on Kickstarter is still serious business. You may not be dealing with a banker or VC (venture capital) firm, but with crowdfunding, you’re actually dealing with tens, hundreds, even thousands of investors.

A lot of the time, crowdfunding seems like a platform where startups take pre-orders from customers for a not-yet-finished product. And that dynamic always carries risks.

For example, CNN Money reported that:

  • 84% of the top 50 funded projects on Kickstarter in 2012 shipped late.
  • More than 75% of hardware projects on Kickstarter fail.

When backers are excited to get their product, any delays will only disappoint and frustrate them.

Obviously, no one starts a crowdfunding campaign to fail or weasel people out of money. However, any time you’re making something, whether it’s a tech product or something creative, you can’t always plan how things will work out. And, unfortunately, not every project will work out.

Precautions to Take in Advance

So, what does that mean for you?

If you want to launch a fundraising campaign on Kickstarter or any other crowdfunding site, you should take the following steps before you post your project:

1. Form a Legal Business Structure, Like an LLC or Corporation

This will give you a layer of protection that can help shield your personal property/assets/finances from your business. If something happens to your project, it means that the business is liable, not you personally.

Remember, you need to have the LLC or corporation officially established before starting the crowdfunding process. All contracts and forms should be done through the LLC and corporation (and not signed by you as an individual).

Get an EIN (Employer Identification Number) After Your LLC/Corporation is Formed

If you’re not familiar with an EIN, it’s essentially a social security number for your business and you’ll need it to open your business’ bank account.

Open a Business Bank Account

Once you have an EIN, your LLC/corporation can open its own bank account. This is going to be an important step to making sure your personal and business finances stay separate.

Taxes

The tax implications of crowdfunding can catch people off guard if they don’t do a little homework beforehand. When people raise money through traditional sources, those funds are considered “contribution to capital.” That means they’re usually not taxed.

However, whenever you raise money on Kickstarter, those funds are considered income. You’ll most likely be issued a 1099-K.

If you bring in a lot of income from crowdfunding, you’ll most likely want to offset it with deductible expenses. Most likely, if you’re starting/finishing your project, you will have expenses. The problem occurs when your Kickstarter funds fall in a different tax year than your expenses.

For example, let’s say you receive your Kickstarter funds in November, but then you don’t actually dive into the project and start spending until January of the following year.

To address this issue, you have two options:

  • You can strategically schedule when you’re going to raise/receive funds and when you’ll be incurring the bulk of your expenses.
  • You can opt for a C Corporation structure, which gives you more flexibility to define your fiscal year for tax reporting (i.e. maybe your fiscal year is April to April). In this case, you should probably turn to a professional tax advisor or accountant to really understand all the implications.

The bottom line is that you need to approach Kickstarter or any other crowdfunding campaign as a traditionally funded business. It’s not a side project or hobby and all of the normal business rules apply.

Money Photo via Shutterstock




Microsoft goes live with Windows 8.1

Microsoft has officially released the revamped version of its latest Windows operating system.

Windows 8.1 is now available as a free update for owners of a Windows 8 device in more than 230 markets.

It comes after last year's release of Windows 8, Microsoft's attempt to create an operating system which worked just as well on smartphones and tablets as on laptops and desktops.

Windows 8 has failed to take off though, with many users expressing frustration at the new look system, which includes a touch-screen, tiled interface.

Microsoft has since struggled with sales of Windows 8 devices and some in the industry have even blamed the company for falling global PC shipments.

The US firm has tried to iron out the problems by making Windows 8.1 simpler to use and more attractive to customers.

Changes in 8.1 include bringing back the start button and allowing users to completely avoid the new tiled interface.

"Windows 8.1 brings a variety of new features and imprvements to Windows 8 that we think people will really enjoy.

We listened to your feedback and are delivering many of the improvements you asked for," Microsoft said in a blog post.

Microsoft has had poor sales of its Surface tablet, which runs on Windows 8, and has had to lower the price. It unveiled a new version of the tablet last month.

Meanwhile, the company is looking for a new chief executive after Steve Ballmer - who has been at the helm since 2000 - announced in August that he would retire within 12 months.

- NZ HERALD ONLINE



Why Your Latest Customer Service Complaint is a Gift



Tech Thursday (10/17): Tech News and Updates from Microsoft Windows, IBHS, Chase, and Neat

It’s Tech Thursday from Smallbiztechnology.com. Each week we take a quick look at recent small business and technology news and updates for the small business community and share them with you in a quick and simple round-up.

Windows 8.1 Available Now

Brings together a unique and personal experience across the broadest range of devices.

Microsoft Corp. today announced the global availability of Windows 8.1, a feature-rich update to its popular Windows 8 operating system, enabling customers to create experiences that keep pace with their lives â€" at work, at home or on the go. Beginning Oct. 17, consumers with a Windows 8 device in more than 230 markets and 37 languages can download the free update via the online Windows Store. Windows 8.1 will also be available on new devices and as boxed software starting Oct. 18 at retail locations around the world.

Windows 8.1 evolves the Windows vision for highly personalized computing while showcasing Microsoft’s continued commitment to rapid and responsive development. It marks a wave of new, innovative devices coming for consumers and businesses â€" from the convenience and mobility of tablets and 2-in-1s to the productive experience expected from laptops, all-in-ones and specialized industry devices. Many of these new devices are touch-enabled and will deliver advancements in processing power, battery life and design, across a range of price points.

Windows 8.1 offers a host of increased customization refinements and functional improvements, including the following:

  • Highly personal. An improved and more customizable Start screen offers variable tile sizes, more background designs and colors so each Windows device looks unique and personal to the individual. In addition, customers can choose how to start their Windows experience â€" at the Start screen or directly in the familiar Windows desktop â€" while all their Windows devices stay in sync with their Microsoft account.
  • More familiar and easy to navigate. As an iconic part of the Windows experience, Windows 8.1 brings back the Start button as a familiar point of navigation. An updated apps view lets users see all their apps at once for easy access and new clicks and cues, as well as a Help + Tips app that gets them up to speed quickly.
  • Enhanced search. The new Bing Smart Search provides the easiest way to find what users need on the device or on the Web in one beautiful and easy consolidated view that’s built for touch. Simply swipe or type from the Start screen, and Smart Search will find it â€" whether it’s a document on a PC, a photo album on SkyDrive, a favorite app, a song from Xbox Music or a website.
  • Wide range of apps and services from the Start. Windows 8.1 is the most complete out-of-the-box experience. It offers a range of apps and services from the Start screen, allowing customers to quickly and easily do the things they love on Windows, such as catching up with friends and family via Skype, emailing effortlessly in the Mail app, watching movies and TV shows on Xbox Video, finding new recipes with the Bing Food & Drink app, or listening to free streaming music via Xbox Music. Windows 8.1 also comes with the new Internet Explorer 11, which is fast, fluid and perfect for touch. Internet Explorer 11 brings enhanced touch performance, speed boosts, and synchronized browsing history, favorites and settings across all Windows 8.1 devices. Windows 8.1 also provides native support for 3-D printing, meaning it will have plug-and-play support for 3-D printers, enable apps to seamlessly print 3-D jobs and understand 3-D file formats.
  • The best for multitasking and productivity. Windows 8.1 includes the display and use of up to four apps side by side, flexible windows sizing for each app on the screen, the ability for one app to launch another app, and improved multimonitor support so users can view the desktop or apps from the Windows Store on any or all monitors.
  • Deep cloud integration with SkyDrive. Windows 8.1 makes it easier than ever to work from anywhere and know that files are always accessible â€" across devices and locations. With SkyDrive, users can create, edit, save and share files anywhere, anytime, on whatever device they’re using.
  • A beautifully redesigned Windows Store. The new design of the Windows Store improves how great apps are showcased and makes it easier for customers to get the apps they want. Fresh layouts and categories, such as New & Rising, make it easier to stay up to date on the hottest new entries to explore. Personalized recommendations use the Bing advanced recommendation and relevance system to help find new favorites. And with Windows 8.1, apps are updated automatically by default, so users always have the newest and best version of any app, such as Fresh Paint, which now includes watercolor, a new graphite pencil set and a new clean, modern user interface for the latest painting or drawing creations. New and updated apps are also continually being delivered to the Windows Store, including Evernote, Facebook for Windows 8.1, Hulu Plus, Adobe Photoshop Express, eBay, Netflix and NOOK.

Customers can go to http://www.windows.com/shop to learn about the wide variety of new Windows devices available now and throughout the holiday season to find the one that best fits their needs and budgets. More information about Windows 8.1 is at http://blogs.windows.com andhttp://www.microsoft.com/en-us/news.

IBHS Launches Free Online Continuity Planning Tool For Small Businesses

New online tool from IBHS will guide business owners through a streamlined process to help them quickly recover after a disaster

As the anniversary of Hurricane Sandy approaches, the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) has launched a free, online version of its popular business continuity planning toolkit, OFB-EZ™ (Open For Business-EZ). This streamlined program guides users through an easy process to create a recovery plan that will help even the smallest business recover and re-open quickly after a disaster.

“OFB-EZ Online, our newest free tool for small business owners, continues IBHS’ commitment to helping create stronger, safer, more resilient communities,” said Gail Moraton, business resiliency manager, IBHS. “As a web-based program, OFB-EZ offers business owners the convenience and confidence of developing and storing their business plan in a secure, third-party location on IBHS’ Disaster Safety website.”

“Users create a free, password-protected account and then work through the online modules in the toolkit at their convenience. The program saves all of the user’s information on the website for easy access at any time and from any location,” explained Moraton.

OFB-EZâ„¢ Online includes several components, such as:

  • evaluation checklists to help business users understand their risks
  • business continuity best practices and resources
  • forms for users to enter and store important contact information for employees, key customers, suppliers, and vendors; and
  • a tabletop exercise for business owners to conduct with their employees to test their plan

Additional supplements will be added to the program in 2014, including a disaster response checklist, recovery location planning, and a property protection checklist.

For more on this new tool from IBHS, click here.

Chase To Awared $3 Million to Small Businesses Through Mission Main StreetsSM Grants; Premier Sponsor Google Provides Special Advertising Offer

Mission Main StreetSM Grants Demonstrates Chase’s Commitment to Helping Small Businesses Grow

Demonstrating an ongoing commitment to small business, Chase today launched Mission Main StreetSM Grants, a program that will award 12 grants of $250,000 to small businesses across America. All businesses that apply for a grant and meet the eligibility requirements will gain access to a Social Media Toolkit and receive a special advertising offer from Premier Sponsor, Google. In addition, the 12 grant recipients will be eligible to receive a trip to Google for an exclusive small business marketing workshop with Google experts and a Google Chromebook Pixel computer.

Now through October 31, any for-profit business that has been engaged in current business activity for at least two consecutive years, has less than 100 year-round,
full-time employees and meets all other eligibility requirements may apply. Businesses must receive at least 250 votes to be eligible for a grant. Full eligibility requirements are available here.

“Small businesses inspire us every day, and Mission Main Street Grants is just one way that Chase can say ‘thank you’ for all that small businesses do in their local communities and across the country,” said Donna Vieira, head of marketing and product for Chase Business Banking. “Chase’s commitment to small business is a long term investment through products, services and Mission Main Street Grants, so small businesses can take big steps for their business and community.”

To help drive small business participation, Chase garnered the support of a diverse group of organizations with a passion for small business.  Having long-standing relationships with Chase, these organizations will each also provide one representative to participate on the panel of judges.

The 12 grant recipients will be selected by expert panelists, including:

  • Ali Brown, entrepreneur mentor and CEO, Ali International
  • David C. Chavern, Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer, U.S. Chamber of Commerce
  • Marco De Leon, Vice President, Government Affairs & Policy, U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
  • Mark Garzone, Senior Vice President, Marketing, National Federation of Independent Business
  • Jon Kaplan, Vice President, US Sales & Operations, Google Inc.
  • Joset Wright-Lacy, President, National Minority Supplier Development Council
  • Chance Mitchell, CEO & Co-Founder, National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce
  • Marc H. Morial, President & CEO, National Urban League
  • J.P. Torres, PR & Communications Director, U.S. Pan Asian American Chamber of Commerce Education Foundation
  • Len Vermillion, Media Manager, National Veteran Owned Business Association
  • Donna Vieira, head of marketing and product for Chase Business Banking
  • Candace Waterman, Chief of Staff, Certification & Program Operations, Women Business Enterprise National Council

“Small businesses employ millions across the country, and continue to be a driving force in our nation’s economic recovery,” said David Chavern, the Chamber’s executive
vice president and chief operating officer. “Small businesses take risks and drive innovation, and we are proud to support Chase in recognizing the important role they play in our economy.”

Mission Main StreetSM Grants recipients will be announced in January 2014. For more on this story, click here.

Neat and Microsoft Announce New Strategic Partnership

Neat to Integrate Microsoft SkyDrive into NeatConnect, Industry’s First Direct-to-Cloud Scanner

Neat®, a leader in Digital Filing Systems for the small business and consumer markets, today announced a partnership with SkyDrive, a leading cloud storage service. Neat will integrate SkyDrive into NeatConnect allowing users to scan documents directly to SkyDrive without the need for a computer. The partnership will significantly enhance Neat’s direct-to-cloud capabilities for its latest offering, NeatConnect, and enable SkyDrive to further its leadership position in cloud storage by providing customers a seamless method to transform paper into digital documents that are always with them. NeatConnect debuted as the first wireless scanner to include direct scan-to-cloud functionality featuring an integrated touchscreen interface.

This collaboration represents Neat and SkyDrive’s commitment to provide their customers with solutions that make it easy to access and share their paper and digital documents and manage their important information in the cloud. The scan-to-cloud technology offered through NeatConnect provides users with a simple way to connect to SkyDrive, all without being tethered to a computer or requiring an intermediate device or software application.

“Today, we all expect an easy way to upload, store, share and access our personal and professional information, while always having our files with us,” said Angus Logan, Group Product Manager for SkyDrive. “Scanning directly from NeatConnect to SkyDrive gives customers the ability to reach our service and enrich their digital filing experience. Additionally, SkyDrive users will be able to leverage Neat’s cloud, mobile, and desktop solutions to simplify tasks such as the creation of expense and tax reports.”

NeatConnect includes:

  • Intuitive touchscreen - makes it easy to select cloud or email destinations and quickly turn paper into digital information
  • Multiple user settings - accommodates the needs of small businesses and families
  • Integrated Wi-Fi antenna - allows users to situate NeatConnect in a place that best serves their workflow and lifestyle - a common area in the office or at home in a place where paper and mail tends to pile up
  • Scan to NeatCloud and email - scan directly to NeatCloud and also send documents via email directly from the device
  • Scan to Cloud Storage Services - with easy set-up, scan directly to leading cloud services, such as SkyDrive
  • Additional Scan locations - scan wirelessly to FTP, direct to SD Card, and direct to desktop computers via USB with included software

To experience NeatConnect first-hand, please view this short overview video that details the available features and functions.



Tech Thursday (10/17): Tech News and Updates from Microsoft Windows, IBHS, Chase, and Neat

It’s Tech Thursday from Smallbiztechnology.com. Each week we take a quick look at recent small business and technology news and updates for the small business community and share them with you in a quick and simple round-up.

Windows 8.1 Available Now

Brings together a unique and personal experience across the broadest range of devices.

Microsoft Corp. today announced the global availability of Windows 8.1, a feature-rich update to its popular Windows 8 operating system, enabling customers to create experiences that keep pace with their lives â€" at work, at home or on the go. Beginning Oct. 17, consumers with a Windows 8 device in more than 230 markets and 37 languages can download the free update via the online Windows Store. Windows 8.1 will also be available on new devices and as boxed software starting Oct. 18 at retail locations around the world.

Windows 8.1 evolves the Windows vision for highly personalized computing while showcasing Microsoft’s continued commitment to rapid and responsive development. It marks a wave of new, innovative devices coming for consumers and businesses â€" from the convenience and mobility of tablets and 2-in-1s to the productive experience expected from laptops, all-in-ones and specialized industry devices. Many of these new devices are touch-enabled and will deliver advancements in processing power, battery life and design, across a range of price points.

Windows 8.1 offers a host of increased customization refinements and functional improvements, including the following:

  • Highly personal. An improved and more customizable Start screen offers variable tile sizes, more background designs and colors so each Windows device looks unique and personal to the individual. In addition, customers can choose how to start their Windows experience â€" at the Start screen or directly in the familiar Windows desktop â€" while all their Windows devices stay in sync with their Microsoft account.
  • More familiar and easy to navigate. As an iconic part of the Windows experience, Windows 8.1 brings back the Start button as a familiar point of navigation. An updated apps view lets users see all their apps at once for easy access and new clicks and cues, as well as a Help + Tips app that gets them up to speed quickly.
  • Enhanced search. The new Bing Smart Search provides the easiest way to find what users need on the device or on the Web in one beautiful and easy consolidated view that’s built for touch. Simply swipe or type from the Start screen, and Smart Search will find it â€" whether it’s a document on a PC, a photo album on SkyDrive, a favorite app, a song from Xbox Music or a website.
  • Wide range of apps and services from the Start. Windows 8.1 is the most complete out-of-the-box experience. It offers a range of apps and services from the Start screen, allowing customers to quickly and easily do the things they love on Windows, such as catching up with friends and family via Skype, emailing effortlessly in the Mail app, watching movies and TV shows on Xbox Video, finding new recipes with the Bing Food & Drink app, or listening to free streaming music via Xbox Music. Windows 8.1 also comes with the new Internet Explorer 11, which is fast, fluid and perfect for touch. Internet Explorer 11 brings enhanced touch performance, speed boosts, and synchronized browsing history, favorites and settings across all Windows 8.1 devices. Windows 8.1 also provides native support for 3-D printing, meaning it will have plug-and-play support for 3-D printers, enable apps to seamlessly print 3-D jobs and understand 3-D file formats.
  • The best for multitasking and productivity. Windows 8.1 includes the display and use of up to four apps side by side, flexible windows sizing for each app on the screen, the ability for one app to launch another app, and improved multimonitor support so users can view the desktop or apps from the Windows Store on any or all monitors.
  • Deep cloud integration with SkyDrive. Windows 8.1 makes it easier than ever to work from anywhere and know that files are always accessible â€" across devices and locations. With SkyDrive, users can create, edit, save and share files anywhere, anytime, on whatever device they’re using.
  • A beautifully redesigned Windows Store. The new design of the Windows Store improves how great apps are showcased and makes it easier for customers to get the apps they want. Fresh layouts and categories, such as New & Rising, make it easier to stay up to date on the hottest new entries to explore. Personalized recommendations use the Bing advanced recommendation and relevance system to help find new favorites. And with Windows 8.1, apps are updated automatically by default, so users always have the newest and best version of any app, such as Fresh Paint, which now includes watercolor, a new graphite pencil set and a new clean, modern user interface for the latest painting or drawing creations. New and updated apps are also continually being delivered to the Windows Store, including Evernote, Facebook for Windows 8.1, Hulu Plus, Adobe Photoshop Express, eBay, Netflix and NOOK.

Customers can go to http://www.windows.com/shop to learn about the wide variety of new Windows devices available now and throughout the holiday season to find the one that best fits their needs and budgets. More information about Windows 8.1 is at http://blogs.windows.com andhttp://www.microsoft.com/en-us/news.

IBHS Launches Free Online Continuity Planning Tool For Small Businesses

New online tool from IBHS will guide business owners through a streamlined process to help them quickly recover after a disaster

As the anniversary of Hurricane Sandy approaches, the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) has launched a free, online version of its popular business continuity planning toolkit, OFB-EZ™ (Open For Business-EZ). This streamlined program guides users through an easy process to create a recovery plan that will help even the smallest business recover and re-open quickly after a disaster.

“OFB-EZ Online, our newest free tool for small business owners, continues IBHS’ commitment to helping create stronger, safer, more resilient communities,” said Gail Moraton, business resiliency manager, IBHS. “As a web-based program, OFB-EZ offers business owners the convenience and confidence of developing and storing their business plan in a secure, third-party location on IBHS’ Disaster Safety website.”

“Users create a free, password-protected account and then work through the online modules in the toolkit at their convenience. The program saves all of the user’s information on the website for easy access at any time and from any location,” explained Moraton.

OFB-EZâ„¢ Online includes several components, such as:

  • evaluation checklists to help business users understand their risks
  • business continuity best practices and resources
  • forms for users to enter and store important contact information for employees, key customers, suppliers, and vendors; and
  • a tabletop exercise for business owners to conduct with their employees to test their plan

Additional supplements will be added to the program in 2014, including a disaster response checklist, recovery location planning, and a property protection checklist.

For more on this new tool from IBHS, click here.

Chase To Awared $3 Million to Small Businesses Through Mission Main StreetsSM Grants; Premier Sponsor Google Provides Special Advertising Offer

Mission Main StreetSM Grants Demonstrates Chase’s Commitment to Helping Small Businesses Grow

Demonstrating an ongoing commitment to small business, Chase today launched Mission Main StreetSM Grants, a program that will award 12 grants of $250,000 to small businesses across America. All businesses that apply for a grant and meet the eligibility requirements will gain access to a Social Media Toolkit and receive a special advertising offer from Premier Sponsor, Google. In addition, the 12 grant recipients will be eligible to receive a trip to Google for an exclusive small business marketing workshop with Google experts and a Google Chromebook Pixel computer.

Now through October 31, any for-profit business that has been engaged in current business activity for at least two consecutive years, has less than 100 year-round,
full-time employees and meets all other eligibility requirements may apply. Businesses must receive at least 250 votes to be eligible for a grant. Full eligibility requirements are available here.

“Small businesses inspire us every day, and Mission Main Street Grants is just one way that Chase can say ‘thank you’ for all that small businesses do in their local communities and across the country,” said Donna Vieira, head of marketing and product for Chase Business Banking. “Chase’s commitment to small business is a long term investment through products, services and Mission Main Street Grants, so small businesses can take big steps for their business and community.”

To help drive small business participation, Chase garnered the support of a diverse group of organizations with a passion for small business.  Having long-standing relationships with Chase, these organizations will each also provide one representative to participate on the panel of judges.

The 12 grant recipients will be selected by expert panelists, including:

  • Ali Brown, entrepreneur mentor and CEO, Ali International
  • David C. Chavern, Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer, U.S. Chamber of Commerce
  • Marco De Leon, Vice President, Government Affairs & Policy, U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
  • Mark Garzone, Senior Vice President, Marketing, National Federation of Independent Business
  • Jon Kaplan, Vice President, US Sales & Operations, Google Inc.
  • Joset Wright-Lacy, President, National Minority Supplier Development Council
  • Chance Mitchell, CEO & Co-Founder, National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce
  • Marc H. Morial, President & CEO, National Urban League
  • J.P. Torres, PR & Communications Director, U.S. Pan Asian American Chamber of Commerce Education Foundation
  • Len Vermillion, Media Manager, National Veteran Owned Business Association
  • Donna Vieira, head of marketing and product for Chase Business Banking
  • Candace Waterman, Chief of Staff, Certification & Program Operations, Women Business Enterprise National Council

“Small businesses employ millions across the country, and continue to be a driving force in our nation’s economic recovery,” said David Chavern, the Chamber’s executive
vice president and chief operating officer. “Small businesses take risks and drive innovation, and we are proud to support Chase in recognizing the important role they play in our economy.”

Mission Main StreetSM Grants recipients will be announced in January 2014. For more on this story, click here.

Neat and Microsoft Announce New Strategic Partnership

Neat to Integrate Microsoft SkyDrive into NeatConnect, Industry’s First Direct-to-Cloud Scanner

Neat®, a leader in Digital Filing Systems for the small business and consumer markets, today announced a partnership with SkyDrive, a leading cloud storage service. Neat will integrate SkyDrive into NeatConnect allowing users to scan documents directly to SkyDrive without the need for a computer. The partnership will significantly enhance Neat’s direct-to-cloud capabilities for its latest offering, NeatConnect, and enable SkyDrive to further its leadership position in cloud storage by providing customers a seamless method to transform paper into digital documents that are always with them. NeatConnect debuted as the first wireless scanner to include direct scan-to-cloud functionality featuring an integrated touchscreen interface.

This collaboration represents Neat and SkyDrive’s commitment to provide their customers with solutions that make it easy to access and share their paper and digital documents and manage their important information in the cloud. The scan-to-cloud technology offered through NeatConnect provides users with a simple way to connect to SkyDrive, all without being tethered to a computer or requiring an intermediate device or software application.

“Today, we all expect an easy way to upload, store, share and access our personal and professional information, while always having our files with us,” said Angus Logan, Group Product Manager for SkyDrive. “Scanning directly from NeatConnect to SkyDrive gives customers the ability to reach our service and enrich their digital filing experience. Additionally, SkyDrive users will be able to leverage Neat’s cloud, mobile, and desktop solutions to simplify tasks such as the creation of expense and tax reports.”

NeatConnect includes:

  • Intuitive touchscreen - makes it easy to select cloud or email destinations and quickly turn paper into digital information
  • Multiple user settings - accommodates the needs of small businesses and families
  • Integrated Wi-Fi antenna - allows users to situate NeatConnect in a place that best serves their workflow and lifestyle - a common area in the office or at home in a place where paper and mail tends to pile up
  • Scan to NeatCloud and email - scan directly to NeatCloud and also send documents via email directly from the device
  • Scan to Cloud Storage Services - with easy set-up, scan directly to leading cloud services, such as SkyDrive
  • Additional Scan locations - scan wirelessly to FTP, direct to SD Card, and direct to desktop computers via USB with included software

To experience NeatConnect first-hand, please view this short overview video that details the available features and functions.



Apple Brings iWork To The Cloud: Should Microsoft Office Be Worried?

Apple announced the addition of iWork for iCloud to its growing set of cloud-based services at this year’s WWDC in San Francisco. Released in beta this past August, but then throttled back due to overwhelming response, the cloud-based iWork suite comprises three products: Numbers, Pages and Keynote. They are quite similar in form and function to their desktop and mobile equivalents, and mimic key functionality of the most common Microsoft Office products.

For those unfamiliar, Numbers offers spreadsheet support similar to Microsoft Excel, Pages offers Microsoft Word-like features, and Keynote allows the creation and viewing of presentations similar to Microsoft PowerPoint. While the iWork products are not fully compatible with, or as feature-rich as, their Microsoft Office counterparts, there is support for common file types and sufficient functionality for all but the heaviest power users. While the cloud-based version is free to all iCloud account holders, the desktop versions of the iWork apps sell a la carte via the Mac App Store for $19.99 each.

Apple recently strengthened the appeal of iWork with two major changes - most likely as a counter to Google’s growing GoogleDocs/GoogleDrive foothold and Microsoft’s recently rumored plans to launch tablet versions (including for iOS) of its popular Office products as early as 2014:

1. As of September, all newly purchased Apple iOS devices include complimentary versions of iWork (formerly the three component apps were sold separately for $9.99 each).
2. The addition of an iCloud-based version of iWork now allows both Mac and Windows PC owners access to the majority of iWork features, offering a very respectable no-cost suite of core business applications.

The biggest advantage of iWork via iCloud is the close and nearly seamless integration across devices, particularly across Apple products. Changes made to documents in any of the three iWork programs are automatically synced and updated across their browser-based, desktop and mobile versions. This provides the ability to view and edit reports, documents, spreadsheets and presentations from virtually anywhere at any time. Some, myself included, may still be reluctant to fully embrace a cloud-based application and prefer to do the heavy lifting of document creation with a desktop version. iWork makes that fully possible. However, being able to not just read or print documents on the go, but to actually make significant changes from a hotel business center PC or an iPad while traveling, and then having those changes reflected across all devices automatically, is quite compelling.

There are still quite a few features missing and some significant and annoying bugs in this iteration of iWork for iCloud. It does require a fairly consistent and reliable Internet connection. Working without connectivity presently causes document saving and syncing issues. Short cuts such as context-sensitive tools are also limited or non-existent in the browser version. Until the product completes its beta and more of the kinks are worked out, I can only recommend using the iCloud-based version as supplement to the desktop or mobile versions of iWork.

Whether iWork (iCloud, desktop or mobile version) is a suitable Microsoft Office or Google Docs replacement for you, depends on your situation:

1. Mac OS X and iOS Users. Because of their tight integration, automatic syncing, nearly identical feature set across all versions, coupled with a very reasonable price, customers using primarily Macs, iPhones and iPads to do most of their work (and across devices) will find the highest degree of satisfaction and smoothest experience with iWork.

2. GoogleDocs and Android users or Windows PC and Windows Phone users. The integration between Google Docs and the Android platform, as well as between Windows PCs and Windows phones with Microsoft Office Web / Mobile applications, is simply superior to the same devices with iWork for iCloud. For this reason, if you’re pretty happy with your current office product suite, I cannot recommend the transition to iWork in either of these scenarios.

3. Windows PC users with iOS devices. The short answer is that it depends. If you are a power user of Microsoft Office products, in particularly Excel, you may find the features in Numbers frustratingly lacking at times. If you are only using Microsoft Office for word processing, spreadsheets and presentations, or do not presently have tools for these tasks, you should find plenty to like in iWork. Be aware, however, that if you are considering getting rid of Microsoft Office completely, there’s a catch. If you use Microsoft Outlook or Access, as examples, you will still need suitable alternates, such as iCloud’s Mail, Calendar or Contacts. PC Advisor recently published an insightful article describing the differences for Mac and Windows PC users, when trying to sync or share documents across devices with iWork for iCloud.

If you are on the fence, or have not yet had a chance to try iWork, this is the perfect time. iWork for iCloud (particularly if paired with the desktop and mobile versions) provides one more affordable and feature-rich option for viewing and editing documents, spreadsheets or presentations across devices. On the other hand, if you are not in a hurry for a solution, the options are only going to increase in the next few months as Apple, Microsoft and Google continue their slugfest to dominate the multi-platform and mobile device storage and office application space.



Apple Brings iWork To The Cloud: Should Microsoft Office Be Worried?

Apple announced the addition of iWork for iCloud to its growing set of cloud-based services at this year’s WWDC in San Francisco. Released in beta this past August, but then throttled back due to overwhelming response, the cloud-based iWork suite comprises three products: Numbers, Pages and Keynote. They are quite similar in form and function to their desktop and mobile equivalents, and mimic key functionality of the most common Microsoft Office products.

For those unfamiliar, Numbers offers spreadsheet support similar to Microsoft Excel, Pages offers Microsoft Word-like features, and Keynote allows the creation and viewing of presentations similar to Microsoft PowerPoint. While the iWork products are not fully compatible with, or as feature-rich as, their Microsoft Office counterparts, there is support for common file types and sufficient functionality for all but the heaviest power users. While the cloud-based version is free to all iCloud account holders, the desktop versions of the iWork apps sell a la carte via the Mac App Store for $19.99 each.

Apple recently strengthened the appeal of iWork with two major changes - most likely as a counter to Google’s growing GoogleDocs/GoogleDrive foothold and Microsoft’s recently rumored plans to launch tablet versions (including for iOS) of its popular Office products as early as 2014:

1. As of September, all newly purchased Apple iOS devices include complimentary versions of iWork (formerly the three component apps were sold separately for $9.99 each).
2. The addition of an iCloud-based version of iWork now allows both Mac and Windows PC owners access to the majority of iWork features, offering a very respectable no-cost suite of core business applications.

The biggest advantage of iWork via iCloud is the close and nearly seamless integration across devices, particularly across Apple products. Changes made to documents in any of the three iWork programs are automatically synced and updated across their browser-based, desktop and mobile versions. This provides the ability to view and edit reports, documents, spreadsheets and presentations from virtually anywhere at any time. Some, myself included, may still be reluctant to fully embrace a cloud-based application and prefer to do the heavy lifting of document creation with a desktop version. iWork makes that fully possible. However, being able to not just read or print documents on the go, but to actually make significant changes from a hotel business center PC or an iPad while traveling, and then having those changes reflected across all devices automatically, is quite compelling.

There are still quite a few features missing and some significant and annoying bugs in this iteration of iWork for iCloud. It does require a fairly consistent and reliable Internet connection. Working without connectivity presently causes document saving and syncing issues. Short cuts such as context-sensitive tools are also limited or non-existent in the browser version. Until the product completes its beta and more of the kinks are worked out, I can only recommend using the iCloud-based version as supplement to the desktop or mobile versions of iWork.

Whether iWork (iCloud, desktop or mobile version) is a suitable Microsoft Office or Google Docs replacement for you, depends on your situation:

1. Mac OS X and iOS Users. Because of their tight integration, automatic syncing, nearly identical feature set across all versions, coupled with a very reasonable price, customers using primarily Macs, iPhones and iPads to do most of their work (and across devices) will find the highest degree of satisfaction and smoothest experience with iWork.

2. GoogleDocs and Android users or Windows PC and Windows Phone users. The integration between Google Docs and the Android platform, as well as between Windows PCs and Windows phones with Microsoft Office Web / Mobile applications, is simply superior to the same devices with iWork for iCloud. For this reason, if you’re pretty happy with your current office product suite, I cannot recommend the transition to iWork in either of these scenarios.

3. Windows PC users with iOS devices. The short answer is that it depends. If you are a power user of Microsoft Office products, in particularly Excel, you may find the features in Numbers frustratingly lacking at times. If you are only using Microsoft Office for word processing, spreadsheets and presentations, or do not presently have tools for these tasks, you should find plenty to like in iWork. Be aware, however, that if you are considering getting rid of Microsoft Office completely, there’s a catch. If you use Microsoft Outlook or Access, as examples, you will still need suitable alternates, such as iCloud’s Mail, Calendar or Contacts. PC Advisor recently published an insightful article describing the differences for Mac and Windows PC users, when trying to sync or share documents across devices with iWork for iCloud.

If you are on the fence, or have not yet had a chance to try iWork, this is the perfect time. iWork for iCloud (particularly if paired with the desktop and mobile versions) provides one more affordable and feature-rich option for viewing and editing documents, spreadsheets or presentations across devices. On the other hand, if you are not in a hurry for a solution, the options are only going to increase in the next few months as Apple, Microsoft and Google continue their slugfest to dominate the multi-platform and mobile device storage and office application space.



Apple Brings iWork To The Cloud: Should Microsoft Office Be Worried?

Apple announced the addition of iWork for iCloud to its growing set of cloud-based services at this year’s WWDC in San Francisco. Released in beta this past August, but then throttled back due to overwhelming response, the cloud-based iWork suite comprises three products: Numbers, Pages and Keynote. They are quite similar in form and function to their desktop and mobile equivalents, and mimic key functionality of the most common Microsoft Office products.

For those unfamiliar, Numbers offers spreadsheet support similar to Microsoft Excel, Pages offers Microsoft Word-like features, and Keynote allows the creation and viewing of presentations similar to Microsoft PowerPoint. While the iWork products are not fully compatible with, or as feature-rich as, their Microsoft Office counterparts, there is support for common file types and sufficient functionality for all but the heaviest power users. While the cloud-based version is free to all iCloud account holders, the desktop versions of the iWork apps sell a la carte via the Mac App Store for $19.99 each.

Apple recently strengthened the appeal of iWork with two major changes - most likely as a counter to Google’s growing GoogleDocs/GoogleDrive foothold and Microsoft’s recently rumored plans to launch tablet versions (including for iOS) of its popular Office products as early as 2014:

1. As of September, all newly purchased Apple iOS devices include complimentary versions of iWork (formerly the three component apps were sold separately for $9.99 each).
2. The addition of an iCloud-based version of iWork now allows both Mac and Windows PC owners access to the majority of iWork features, offering a very respectable no-cost suite of core business applications.

The biggest advantage of iWork via iCloud is the close and nearly seamless integration across devices, particularly across Apple products. Changes made to documents in any of the three iWork programs are automatically synced and updated across their browser-based, desktop and mobile versions. This provides the ability to view and edit reports, documents, spreadsheets and presentations from virtually anywhere at any time. Some, myself included, may still be reluctant to fully embrace a cloud-based application and prefer to do the heavy lifting of document creation with a desktop version. iWork makes that fully possible. However, being able to not just read or print documents on the go, but to actually make significant changes from a hotel business center PC or an iPad while traveling, and then having those changes reflected across all devices automatically, is quite compelling.

There are still quite a few features missing and some significant and annoying bugs in this iteration of iWork for iCloud. It does require a fairly consistent and reliable Internet connection. Working without connectivity presently causes document saving and syncing issues. Short cuts such as context-sensitive tools are also limited or non-existent in the browser version. Until the product completes its beta and more of the kinks are worked out, I can only recommend using the iCloud-based version as supplement to the desktop or mobile versions of iWork.

Whether iWork (iCloud, desktop or mobile version) is a suitable Microsoft Office or Google Docs replacement for you, depends on your situation:

1. Mac OS X and iOS Users. Because of their tight integration, automatic syncing, nearly identical feature set across all versions, coupled with a very reasonable price, customers using primarily Macs, iPhones and iPads to do most of their work (and across devices) will find the highest degree of satisfaction and smoothest experience with iWork.

2. GoogleDocs and Android users or Windows PC and Windows Phone users. The integration between Google Docs and the Android platform, as well as between Windows PCs and Windows phones with Microsoft Office Web / Mobile applications, is simply superior to the same devices with iWork for iCloud. For this reason, if you’re pretty happy with your current office product suite, I cannot recommend the transition to iWork in either of these scenarios.

3. Windows PC users with iOS devices. The short answer is that it depends. If you are a power user of Microsoft Office products, in particularly Excel, you may find the features in Numbers frustratingly lacking at times. If you are only using Microsoft Office for word processing, spreadsheets and presentations, or do not presently have tools for these tasks, you should find plenty to like in iWork. Be aware, however, that if you are considering getting rid of Microsoft Office completely, there’s a catch. If you use Microsoft Outlook or Access, as examples, you will still need suitable alternates, such as iCloud’s Mail, Calendar or Contacts. PC Advisor recently published an insightful article describing the differences for Mac and Windows PC users, when trying to sync or share documents across devices with iWork for iCloud.

If you are on the fence, or have not yet had a chance to try iWork, this is the perfect time. iWork for iCloud (particularly if paired with the desktop and mobile versions) provides one more affordable and feature-rich option for viewing and editing documents, spreadsheets or presentations across devices. On the other hand, if you are not in a hurry for a solution, the options are only going to increase in the next few months as Apple, Microsoft and Google continue their slugfest to dominate the multi-platform and mobile device storage and office application space.



7 Marketing Lessons From My Local Barber Shop

local marketing lessons

I learn so much from small businesses that I visit.

I have previously written small business thoughts while having a pedicure and recently, I looked around as I sat in the chair at the local barber shop. Suddenly, I had many useful thoughts about local marketing lessons that could be gleaned from this small business.  I eventually came up with seven.

Sign Strategy

I discovered the Traville Barber Shop in 2007 due to their signs. The Strip Mall at Traville Gateway in Rockville, MD was new and as I drove past my regular commute route, I saw the sign and decided to try this small business. Primarily it was the closest and I still go there.

I must add that I was the first to review this business. Now, it has 24 reviews and many of them say that they didn’t want to review it, selfishly, because the “best kept secret in Rockville” is now out.

Takeaway: If you have a brick and mortar business, you should make sure you have signs with direction arrows in the surrounding areas.  Especially on weekends.

“Open” for Business Sign

local marketing lessonsWhen the store is open, there is always an “open” sign that attracts attention by blinking. Sometimes, I make the impromptu decision to walk in as it is conveniently open. They also have clear business hours and a nicely marked sign when they close for holidays or other occasions.

Takeaway: Consider an illuminated flashing sign that indicates your business is currently “open for business” during business hours.  Also provide your hours of business. If you ever have to close for holidays or special occasions, make sure you have a sign to indicate this.

The Ritz Carlton Way

I am not saying they copied from the Ritz Carlton’s books, but as you walk in, almost all of them look up and greet incoming customers. The owner, Dimitri Axaopoulus, always make sure he talks to every customer when he is in the store.

Greeting every customer is important.

Takeaway: When a new customer enters your business, a friendly greeting goes a long way to make them feel comfortable. You have to stress the importance to everyone on your team. Remember, smiles are free and priceless.

Asking the Right Questions

I am not that particular about my haircut and too many questions bother me because I am scared of the results of my instructions. I like saying a simple “short” or “medium short” and they seem to know the rest. They do periodically ask my opinion to see if they are following the instructions and I have observed them catering to other customers who want their hair cut in a particular way.

Takeaway: There are several points in the delivery process of your product where your customer’s opinion is important. Build a way into that delivery process to get your customer’s opinion. Train your team to ask the right number of questions at the right time.

Setting Customer Expectations

When I went for a haircut this weekend, it was busy and the chairs in the waiting area were almost full but . But the wait was not long. There was enough staff and I was seated within 3 to 4 minutes. As new customers came in, they were greeted and told that the wait time was not more than 10 minutes and that was probably accurate.

Takeaway: As you become successful, don’t let your service drop. Scale the business and set the right expectations for your customers so that they keep coming back. On the day, I was getting ready to be the keynote speaker at Georgetown University’s Certificate Completion Ceremony and could not have waited long. I am glad they had extra team members to handle the volume.

Providing Extras

You go for a hair cut and then you are delighted by touches like - warm shaving cream and a shoulder and head massage. Suggesting a trim of hair around ears and eyebrows are all things that make me happy. It’s also the way for this store to give it’s customers something extra as part of the package. That delights customers, as you can see from the Yelp reviews.

Takeaway: There is always a way to provide something over and above to delight a customer. Remember, the chance of your next new customer coming from your existing customers is very high.

Taking Care of Non-Customers

Even though my son does not get his hair cut here, he wants to come with me most of the time. He gets hot pop-corn, maybe even a lolipop and the chance to play with the cars in the waiting area. This goes a long way with kids. I have seen a large amount of them come to the business.

Takeaway: Offer customers something that takes care of them while waiting. There are many ideas for this - maybe a car wash while you get your haircut? That’s probably carrying it too far but, who knows? My friend, Anjali Verma at Kidville Bethesda, has an area where kids can get a hair cut and many parents use it.

What have you learned from your local barber?

Barber Photo via Shutterstock




7 Marketing Lessons From My Local Barber Shop

local marketing lessons

I learn so much from small businesses that I visit.

I have previously written small business thoughts while having a pedicure and recently, I looked around as I sat in the chair at the local barber shop. Suddenly, I had many useful thoughts about local marketing lessons that could be gleaned from this small business.  I eventually came up with seven.

Sign Strategy

I discovered the Traville Barber Shop in 2007 due to their signs. The Strip Mall at Traville Gateway in Rockville, MD was new and as I drove past my regular commute route, I saw the sign and decided to try this small business. Primarily it was the closest and I still go there.

I must add that I was the first to review this business. Now, it has 24 reviews and many of them say that they didn’t want to review it, selfishly, because the “best kept secret in Rockville” is now out.

Takeaway: If you have a brick and mortar business, you should make sure you have signs with direction arrows in the surrounding areas.  Especially on weekends.

“Open” for Business Sign

local marketing lessonsWhen the store is open, there is always an “open” sign that attracts attention by blinking. Sometimes, I make the impromptu decision to walk in as it is conveniently open. They also have clear business hours and a nicely marked sign when they close for holidays or other occasions.

Takeaway: Consider an illuminated flashing sign that indicates your business is currently “open for business” during business hours.  Also provide your hours of business. If you ever have to close for holidays or special occasions, make sure you have a sign to indicate this.

The Ritz Carlton Way

I am not saying they copied from the Ritz Carlton’s books, but as you walk in, almost all of them look up and greet incoming customers. The owner, Dimitri Axaopoulus, always make sure he talks to every customer when he is in the store.

Greeting every customer is important.

Takeaway: When a new customer enters your business, a friendly greeting goes a long way to make them feel comfortable. You have to stress the importance to everyone on your team. Remember, smiles are free and priceless.

Asking the Right Questions

I am not that particular about my haircut and too many questions bother me because I am scared of the results of my instructions. I like saying a simple “short” or “medium short” and they seem to know the rest. They do periodically ask my opinion to see if they are following the instructions and I have observed them catering to other customers who want their hair cut in a particular way.

Takeaway: There are several points in the delivery process of your product where your customer’s opinion is important. Build a way into that delivery process to get your customer’s opinion. Train your team to ask the right number of questions at the right time.

Setting Customer Expectations

When I went for a haircut this weekend, it was busy and the chairs in the waiting area were almost full but . But the wait was not long. There was enough staff and I was seated within 3 to 4 minutes. As new customers came in, they were greeted and told that the wait time was not more than 10 minutes and that was probably accurate.

Takeaway: As you become successful, don’t let your service drop. Scale the business and set the right expectations for your customers so that they keep coming back. On the day, I was getting ready to be the keynote speaker at Georgetown University’s Certificate Completion Ceremony and could not have waited long. I am glad they had extra team members to handle the volume.

Providing Extras

You go for a hair cut and then you are delighted by touches like - warm shaving cream and a shoulder and head massage. Suggesting a trim of hair around ears and eyebrows are all things that make me happy. It’s also the way for this store to give it’s customers something extra as part of the package. That delights customers, as you can see from the Yelp reviews.

Takeaway: There is always a way to provide something over and above to delight a customer. Remember, the chance of your next new customer coming from your existing customers is very high.

Taking Care of Non-Customers

Even though my son does not get his hair cut here, he wants to come with me most of the time. He gets hot pop-corn, maybe even a lolipop and the chance to play with the cars in the waiting area. This goes a long way with kids. I have seen a large amount of them come to the business.

Takeaway: Offer customers something that takes care of them while waiting. There are many ideas for this - maybe a car wash while you get your haircut? That’s probably carrying it too far but, who knows? My friend, Anjali Verma at Kidville Bethesda, has an area where kids can get a hair cut and many parents use it.

What have you learned from your local barber?

Barber Photo via Shutterstock